History
From the bantam chickens that were often kept in the Franco-Belgian border region, where the Schelde enters Belgium, a regional breed emerged at the end of the 19th century that was named "Mille fleurs du Tournaisis". The center of the region where these small chickens were found was Bleharies and the surrounding area. This bantam chicken was also called the Naine du Tournaisis. This name has kept the breed. In Dutch the name then becomes Tournai bantam. Another name with which the breed was commonly referred to is the skipper's chicken. The breed got this nickname because this calm animal was kept on deck on many inland vessels.
Nothing is known about the ancestors of the breed. There is a suspicion that the old French breed Mantes (a black-and-white grouse) has contributed to the creation. This is quite possible because the Mantes were kept in the same border region as the grouse. The first registration of the breed can be found in Chasse et Pêche from 1923. R. du Manoir reports that he already knew the breed from 1883 under the name Tiquetée (read 'dotted').
Even before the First World War, they started recording the breed characteristics. Unfortunately, almost all the work was lost in the war. After the Second World War, the rebuilding of the breed was taken seriously. They used the still present Tournian bantams and partridge-colored Old English fighting bantams. The Old English fighting bantam was bred at that time in a type that is very different from the current 'modern' type. The final result of this deliberate crossing is our 'modern' Tournai bantam. This Tournian bantam genetically differs from the original breed. We must accept this, otherwise the Tournai bantam would have died out.
Appearance (type, color and drawing)
The Tournai bantam is a relatively small breed and belongs to the locust type. The weight of the rooster is between 700 and 800 grams. A hen weighs around 650 grams. A characteristic of the other fowls is that they are powerful and broad in the shoulder area. The original Tournian bantam probably had different color varieties. Our current Tournai bantam has only one color and one drawing pattern: tricolor fur.
An important characteristic of this color is that the drawing may not be regular. A sharp boundary of the color fields is therefore out of the question. The tricolor consists of a maroon ground color with black and white spring fields on top. The latter can occur separately, but the white spring field can also be in the black spring field. Some strains display peppers on the basic color of the hens. Other strains hardly show this pepperation. According to the standard committee of the Dutch Hoender, Dwerghoender, Sier- en Watervogelhouders (NHDB), whether or not this pepper is owned is of secondary importance.
Properties and housing
The Tournai bantam belongs to the land fowls. These varieties are ideal for a large run or a free range. Due to its quiet nature, the Tournai bantam can also be kept well in an indoor loft. The hens of this breed have traditionally built a name for themselves as good and reliable hatchers. They raise their chicks well. They also do well as layers of a considerable number of eggs.
For the enthusiast
For the enthusiast who wants something unique in the loft but also wants to regularly collect a decent egg, the quiet Tournian bantam is a perfect choice. Read more about the Tournai bantam (in dutch). :
https://www.kleindiermagazine.nl/KMonline/KM201703/HTML/files/assets/basic-html/page-17.html
In December 2013, an article appeared on the digital magazine Aviculture Europe. Jan Schaareman wrote it.
http://www.aviculture-europe.nl/umbers/13N06A11.pdf
Source: ZOBK:https://www.zobk.nl/clubrassen/doornikse-kriel
image credits: Steunpunt Levend Erfgoed : https://sle.be/wat-levend-erfgoed/rassen/doornikse-kriel
For everyone who likes to buy these reasonably good laying beauties : my hens both died at the age of 4. It doesn’t seems to be a tough breed.
From the bantam chickens that were often kept in the Franco-Belgian border region, where the Schelde enters Belgium, a regional breed emerged at the end of the 19th century that was named "Mille fleurs du Tournaisis". The center of the region where these small chickens were found was Bleharies and the surrounding area. This bantam chicken was also called the Naine du Tournaisis. This name has kept the breed. In Dutch the name then becomes Tournai bantam. Another name with which the breed was commonly referred to is the skipper's chicken. The breed got this nickname because this calm animal was kept on deck on many inland vessels.
Nothing is known about the ancestors of the breed. There is a suspicion that the old French breed Mantes (a black-and-white grouse) has contributed to the creation. This is quite possible because the Mantes were kept in the same border region as the grouse. The first registration of the breed can be found in Chasse et Pêche from 1923. R. du Manoir reports that he already knew the breed from 1883 under the name Tiquetée (read 'dotted').
Even before the First World War, they started recording the breed characteristics. Unfortunately, almost all the work was lost in the war. After the Second World War, the rebuilding of the breed was taken seriously. They used the still present Tournian bantams and partridge-colored Old English fighting bantams. The Old English fighting bantam was bred at that time in a type that is very different from the current 'modern' type. The final result of this deliberate crossing is our 'modern' Tournai bantam. This Tournian bantam genetically differs from the original breed. We must accept this, otherwise the Tournai bantam would have died out.
Appearance (type, color and drawing)
The Tournai bantam is a relatively small breed and belongs to the locust type. The weight of the rooster is between 700 and 800 grams. A hen weighs around 650 grams. A characteristic of the other fowls is that they are powerful and broad in the shoulder area. The original Tournian bantam probably had different color varieties. Our current Tournai bantam has only one color and one drawing pattern: tricolor fur.
An important characteristic of this color is that the drawing may not be regular. A sharp boundary of the color fields is therefore out of the question. The tricolor consists of a maroon ground color with black and white spring fields on top. The latter can occur separately, but the white spring field can also be in the black spring field. Some strains display peppers on the basic color of the hens. Other strains hardly show this pepperation. According to the standard committee of the Dutch Hoender, Dwerghoender, Sier- en Watervogelhouders (NHDB), whether or not this pepper is owned is of secondary importance.
Properties and housing
The Tournai bantam belongs to the land fowls. These varieties are ideal for a large run or a free range. Due to its quiet nature, the Tournai bantam can also be kept well in an indoor loft. The hens of this breed have traditionally built a name for themselves as good and reliable hatchers. They raise their chicks well. They also do well as layers of a considerable number of eggs.
For the enthusiast
For the enthusiast who wants something unique in the loft but also wants to regularly collect a decent egg, the quiet Tournian bantam is a perfect choice. Read more about the Tournai bantam (in dutch). :
https://www.kleindiermagazine.nl/KMonline/KM201703/HTML/files/assets/basic-html/page-17.html
In December 2013, an article appeared on the digital magazine Aviculture Europe. Jan Schaareman wrote it.
http://www.aviculture-europe.nl/umbers/13N06A11.pdf
Source: ZOBK:https://www.zobk.nl/clubrassen/doornikse-kriel
image credits: Steunpunt Levend Erfgoed : https://sle.be/wat-levend-erfgoed/rassen/doornikse-kriel
For everyone who likes to buy these reasonably good laying beauties : my hens both died at the age of 4. It doesn’t seems to be a tough breed.
I really don't know. But it shouldn't be too difficult to buy a dozen of eggs if you ever go to the Netherlands or Belgium.
You can write to the ZOBK Speciaalclub in Belgium in English or translate your question with Google before sending : there is an adres and a contact form on their site. https://www.zobk.nl/clubrassen/doornikse-kriel
There is more info about de Tournaisis on this site too.